NCCEV Press Releases

For immediate release: September 17, 2001

Family Day 2001 Kickoff Program to offer Support, Celebration of Families

Program revamped to reflect upon National Tragedy

HARTFORD, CT -- Governor John G. Rowland, Department of Children and Families Commissioner Kristine D. Ragaglia, J.D., Education Commissioner Theodore S. Sergi, Commissioner Thomas Kirk of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Senator Joseph J. Crisco will lead a Family Day program created to support families and individuals coping with the tragedies of last week and celebrate the indomitable spirit of American families. The program is open to the public and will be held on Thursday, September 20 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. in room 2C of the Legislative Office Building.

This fourth annual celebration of Family Day will depart from the original program that was to showcase positive youth development initiatives. "It is important to have this event, despite what has happened, because our spirit will not be shaken," said Commissioner Ragaglia. "Given the tragedy that has affected us all, we wanted to reshape the program to provide support and guidance to families coping with its effects, and to celebrate the fact that our families are what keep us all going in times like this."

Speakers will include Patricia K. Leebens, M.D., Director of Psychiatry at DCF, David Schonfeld, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine and National Center for Children Exposed to Violence, and Kelly Huffman, LPC, CEAP, Counselor from the University of Connecticut Employee Assistance Program. They will offer guidance on helping children and adults cope with feelings of shock, grief and guilt.

The program will also include a prayer led by the Reverend Canon Annika Warren, Chaplain at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, and patriotic songs led by singers from the Connecticut Children’s Place School.

Parking will be available on the roof level of the Legislative Office Building parking lot.

For more information, please contact:

National Center for Children Exposed to Violence
1-877- 49-NCCEV
Email: nccev@info.med.yale.edu
Or visit the program’s websites at www.nccev.org and www.cd-cp.org.